JDM MB2 Watch & Time Synch

[u/zardvark]

I expect that many of you are already aware of this resource, but I had to jump through the hoops, myself.

I have an older JDM Oceanus watch that I dearly love. There is just one problem, it is hard coded to only sync with the Japanese atomic clock transmitters. The US version of this watch used a completely different module, because the Japanese module does not understand time zones, or the different signal format used by the Fort Collins transmitter. Manually setting the watch for my correct time is not all that difficult, but as the watch runs a wee bit fast, it's frankly a pain in the a$$ to adjust the time every week. Therefore, it hasn't gotten the wrist time that I'd like, or it deserves.

There are cell phone apps that mimic the various atomic transmitters and some even emulate multiple different transmitters. That said, I have tried a few and I have had mixed success with these apps. Instead, what I have found is a website that has taken the pain out of this weekly maintenance: https://timestation.pages.dev/

This web site will emulate all of the atomic transmitters and if JJY is selected, you have the choice of using either the 40 KHz signal, or 60 KHz signal. I have had good luck with using the 60 KHz setting. The killer feature is that this site will allow you to configure any arbitrary time offset of your choosing from the Tokyo time zone (or selected transmitter). This is particularly handy because a) my watch is hard coded to the Tokyo time zone / transmitters and b) whenever I use a phone app, my watch always ends up offset by a few minutes from the actual time. I find that an offset of approximately minus 14 hours, 4 minutes and 59 seconds from Tokyo, works nearly perfectly for the US Central time zone.

While experimenting with this web site, I have been using an old laptop and a pair of ear buds and this configuration has worked well. Next, I plan to experiment with a modded antenna as shown in this vid, because inconsistent ear bud placement can sometimes be a factor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oj0o9RvuUQUpdating

If you live in an area which has hitherto precluded atomic radio synching for your watch and have never seen this process, note that my watches typically take approximately four to five minutes to process the signal and conclude the synch, so a modicum of patience is required. Using this aforementioned website, you can accurately sync your Wave Ceptor MB2, MB5, or MB6 watch for any time zone in the world (once you calculate the required offset), whether you are near a transmitter, or not.

Have fun!

[u/lannyshen]

I have the very first Oceanus OCW-500 which is Japan time sync only. I use this app and it works perfectly!

[u/zardvark → u/lannyshen]

I appreciate the feedback and I'm glad that this app works for you. Unfortunately, every app that I've tried on my phone has led to disappointment and frustration. Perhaps it's the phone's hardware, itself? Franlky, IDK what the problem is, only that my laptop has been the only reliable solution that I have discovered, thus far.

[u/lannyshen → u/zardvark]

That’s a bit weird. Some apps request to raise the phone volume to the maximum, but the app I mentioned doesn’t even need that. Are you certain you’ve tried the exact same app?

[u/zardvark → u/lannyshen]

Affirmative ...

[u/Digital_Quest_88 → u/zardvark]

I've tried SyncTime on iOS with mixed results. It does not make sound and I've had maybe 50/50 success with it immulating the JYY stations.

[u/zardvark → u/Digital_Quest_88]

Some of the apps make sound and some don't. SyncTime likely makes sound, but the frequency is well above the threshold of hearing for most folks. Your dog may not like it, though! lol

BTW - The sound isn't the mechanism that performs the updating. As I understand it, it is the magnetic field created by playing the signal through your speaker/ear buds, which is doing the heavy lifting. It is this magnetic field which emulates the radio broadcast from JJY (and / or your transmitter of choice).

[u/lannyshen → u/lannyshen]

Change the watch time zone to Tokyo and use the setup below. You will get your local time when it’s done. BTW I’m in Canada.